How to not get carried away spending on the May bank holiday weekends

It’s easy to go big during the long weekends, but there are ways to rein in overspending.

What is it about bank holiday weekends that seem to make it so easy to spend an absolute fortune?

Regardless how fun they are and how nice it is to have an extra day off work and school, whether you’re 23 and spending three days in a pub garden, 40 and trying to keep the kids occupied for an extra day, or 65 and going overboard in the garden centre, bank holidays can be money pits.

Especially when we have two coming up, back-to-back (the early May bank holiday on May 4, and the spring bank holiday on May 25).

Personal finance expert at Boundless, Lynn Beattie (aka Mrs Mummypenny ), notes that the cost of living crisis doesn’t help, neither does the compulsion to ‘keep up with the Jones’”.

“The biggest thing with all of these kinds of events is the pressures of social media,” says the mum of three.

“It’s the demands on people to be doing something more exciting than other people, and something better than last year.

It’s that ongoing need to be doing better, and it can end up costing more.”
Fortunately, unlike during the winter holidays, “the weather’s nicer, and at least when it’s sunny, there’s a lot more opportunity to go and do cheaper stuff,” she adds.

Here’s how to still enjoy the bank hols, without going bankrupt in the process…
“Always know how much money you can afford to set aside to cover what you want to do,” says Beattie.

“That’s going to give you some idea of what you can go out and do.” Moneyplanner has one you can fill out online to make it nice and clear.

Little things, like taking a packed lunch (despite the kids – or adults – moaning about it) can slash your spend.

“Avoid the gift shop at the end, and my little trick for ice creams, rather than getting an expensive [one] from an ice cream shop, go to a little Tesco or Co-op nearby and buy a box,” says Beattie.

“It can end up £10 for three of them from the ice cream van, or £3 for three from the shop!”
Although idyllic, you can swap the pub garden in the sun, for your (or a friend’s) garden in the sun instead.

“I went out at the weekend, to a day rave, and we easily spent £50 each on drinks, where you could probably spend £50 between four of you if you just did it around each other’s houses.

Take a bit of food, a bottle each, and you’re sorted,” says Beattie.

Alternatively, just have one at the pub… it is possible.